Charla P. Richard v. State of Indiana

OPINION

SHEPARD, Senior Judge.

When a police dog alerts to the presence of narcotics in a vehicle, does an officer have probable cause to arrest and thus search the vehicle’s passenger? On the facts of this case, we answer yes and therefore affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On January 24, 2012, Officer John Weir of the Plymouth Police Department was on duty in his squad car with his canine partner Rex, who was trained in narcotics detection. When a vehicle in front of them repeatedly crossed the center line, Officer Weir initiated a traffic stop. Christopher Fields was in the driver’s seat,…